Original Entry posted on January 25, 2010
Today is Monday, January 25th. I am so sorry for the delay in this entry. I know most of you are anxiously
awaiting this entry as well as pictures. Yesterday, January 24th was "Gotcha" Day, when we actually got
Madelyn. This was quite an emotional event. We were shuttled to the Adoption Affairs Office along with 8
other families and waited for our children to arrive. Madelyn was the last one of the last to arrive and Keith
knew from the moment he saw her in her caregivers arms that it was her. (She was sleeping in her "Auntie's"
arms when she arrived and we could only see the top of her head). The handover was a little anxious for both
her and us. Her orphanage caregiver "Auntie" loved her very much and was visibly upset in handing her over,
to not ever see her again. Madelyn was apparently very attached to her as well. In talking with her Auntie I
found out that she had been with Madelyn since she had been found at birth. Her Auntie had prepared a memory
book for me which included some "priceless" photos - the day she was found, her first bath, her surgery, her first
birthday, her friends, her room, her potty training, etc. This gift was priceless to me as things are events that I now
look at and share with Madelyn through these photos. The book even included a hand made Birthday card in
Chinese. Before we leave we will have someone translate it. This was quite an emotional event and one I will never
forget. Once we finished the initial paperwork to enable us to take her with us for the first 24 hours we returned to
our hotel. She cried the whole way back and for a while in the hotel room. She wasn't too sure about what was
going on and who we were. She finally settled down when we took her to dinner and she was enjoying us and the
food. She was even playing and acting silly with Keith. After a short and sweet bath (which she hated) she snuggled
up with Keith and went fast to sleep. She slept all night until we woke her up this morning. In the short time we have
had her I noticed several things. She is completely potty trained. She doesn't ask to go potty but will go whenever
you take her. She is VERY bright - (her auntie said the same thing). I brought some toys for her, stacking cups,
electronic toys, etc. It only takes her a few moments to figure out how they work. She understands what we are
saying such as wipe your hands, use your napkin, let's go bye bye, get your bag, etc. She has even repeated English
words - fry, Lizzy, etc. She plays quietly and is very happy child. She is beginning to get use to us. She will reach for
Keith or I when she wants to be held. We have seen several smiles and laughs. She will hold our hand when she walks.
She will look and make sure that we are both with her - for example if we are walking out of the elevator, if one of us is
a little slow getting out of the elevator she will stop, look and wait until they catch up. While at the table if Keith gets up
and walks to the buffet, she will croon her neck and continue to look for him until he returns to the table. Today, we
finalized the adoption so she is officially ours!!!! This was a GREAT moment! We have applied for her Chinese passport
and it should be here on Friday so we can fly to Guangzhou. During our free time we are going to see the sites in the City.
We will tour the City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and the Terra Cotta Warriors. She is such a good child we are certain
that she will enjoy getting out and having a bit of fun.
awaiting this entry as well as pictures. Yesterday, January 24th was "Gotcha" Day, when we actually got
Madelyn. This was quite an emotional event. We were shuttled to the Adoption Affairs Office along with 8
other families and waited for our children to arrive. Madelyn was the last one of the last to arrive and Keith
knew from the moment he saw her in her caregivers arms that it was her. (She was sleeping in her "Auntie's"
arms when she arrived and we could only see the top of her head). The handover was a little anxious for both
her and us. Her orphanage caregiver "Auntie" loved her very much and was visibly upset in handing her over,
to not ever see her again. Madelyn was apparently very attached to her as well. In talking with her Auntie I
found out that she had been with Madelyn since she had been found at birth. Her Auntie had prepared a memory
book for me which included some "priceless" photos - the day she was found, her first bath, her surgery, her first
birthday, her friends, her room, her potty training, etc. This gift was priceless to me as things are events that I now
look at and share with Madelyn through these photos. The book even included a hand made Birthday card in
Chinese. Before we leave we will have someone translate it. This was quite an emotional event and one I will never
forget. Once we finished the initial paperwork to enable us to take her with us for the first 24 hours we returned to
our hotel. She cried the whole way back and for a while in the hotel room. She wasn't too sure about what was
going on and who we were. She finally settled down when we took her to dinner and she was enjoying us and the
food. She was even playing and acting silly with Keith. After a short and sweet bath (which she hated) she snuggled
up with Keith and went fast to sleep. She slept all night until we woke her up this morning. In the short time we have
had her I noticed several things. She is completely potty trained. She doesn't ask to go potty but will go whenever
you take her. She is VERY bright - (her auntie said the same thing). I brought some toys for her, stacking cups,
electronic toys, etc. It only takes her a few moments to figure out how they work. She understands what we are
saying such as wipe your hands, use your napkin, let's go bye bye, get your bag, etc. She has even repeated English
words - fry, Lizzy, etc. She plays quietly and is very happy child. She is beginning to get use to us. She will reach for
Keith or I when she wants to be held. We have seen several smiles and laughs. She will hold our hand when she walks.
She will look and make sure that we are both with her - for example if we are walking out of the elevator, if one of us is
a little slow getting out of the elevator she will stop, look and wait until they catch up. While at the table if Keith gets up
and walks to the buffet, she will croon her neck and continue to look for him until he returns to the table. Today, we
finalized the adoption so she is officially ours!!!! This was a GREAT moment! We have applied for her Chinese passport
and it should be here on Friday so we can fly to Guangzhou. During our free time we are going to see the sites in the City.
We will tour the City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and the Terra Cotta Warriors. She is such a good child we are certain
that she will enjoy getting out and having a bit of fun.
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